Will a Chinese takeaway ever be enjoyable again now that we know this?
Of course we were aware the meal wasn’t the equivalent to a broccoli soup and salad in nutritional values but we were not prepared for what was revealed to the nation last night.
The typical Chinese takeaway meal for one contains portions big enough for two and some of the starters alone contain one third of an adult’s total daily calorie requirement.
A study by Safefood sampled 230 Chinese meal items from 35 outlets around the country.
An average meal of a starter, a main course and egg-fried rice can contain more than an adult’s total daily calorie requirement- and one and a half times their recommended maximum level of salt.
The Irish Examiner put it into context for us this morning and explained that the meal has as many calories as 66 McDonalds chicken nuggets or nine Mars bars.
A Chinese takeaway in by the tele is never going to be same again…
Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, Safefood’s human health and nutrition director explained the situation on last night’s Six One News;
“Although traditional Chinese food is healthy, being low in fat and with a strong emphasis on vegetables, chefs here have adapted their recipes to suit local taste buds as their dishes have become more popular.”
It’s all about the portion size. Why not share with a few friends as a treat instead?
Our Western taste-buds prefer foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar and our idea of portion-size is a multiple of what the Chinese eat.
We are all familiar with the full, bloated feeling a Chinese takeaway gives us, why do we even choose to gorge on so much? And we’ve all been victim to the post-Chinese belly, it’s not one you’d go running for dessert with…
The emphasis should be placed on that fact that a Chinese takeaway should be considered a treat, a once-off as a choice of meal, not a meal you would resort to on a daily basis.
And the majority of Irish people do believe that, as it was also revealed that almost two thirds of people regard a Chinese takeaway as a treat.
The research is the latest in a series of reviews of takeaway foods to help consumers make more informed choices when eating food prepared outside the home.
These facts could easily change our mind the next time we reach for the local takeaway menu…
1. The recommended guideline daily amount for an adult is currently 2,000 calories and 70 grams of fat in total.
2. A Chinese takeaway of vegetable spring rolls, sweet and sour chicken, egg-fried rice and a can of Coke provides approximately 2,323 calories. This is 116 per cent the recommended daily allowance.
3. The meal contains 74 grams of total fat, 106 per cent the daily guideline amount, and 10 grams of salt, or 160 per cent the recommended daily allowance.
Prawn cracker anyone?
